Through the winding streets of the Mt. Adams district of Cincinnati sets a Shining Star of bar that has a spectacular view of downtown, a terrific hamburger called the Big Ted, some of the best wurst in town, and funky ways of doing business that make it one of the more unique bars in the country. It also possesses a jukebox that features classic 70’s disco music that is sure to make you Shake Your Groove Thing.

Here is the Dirty Lowdown. City View Tavern is a spotless dive in a predominantly residential neighborhood. A small covered deck to the left of the bar provides a panoramic view of the downtown skyline and Kentucky in the distance. No Hustle here however. Bartenders double as cooks, and they painstakingly go back to the kitchen on the right for anything from hamburgers to sausages to a secret Bloody Mary recipe.

Pay as you go is the way they do business here. That’s The Way, uh, uh, They Like It, uh, uh. No tabs. Don’t be in a hurry either. Much like the city it looks down upon, the pace is decidedly Southern. But they will Turn the Beat Around on a drink order, with Cincinnati’s own Christian Morlein and Barrelhouse Brewery representing.

The chairs and tables of this small place are retro diner, as if acquired with S&H green stamps. But Take This to the Bank: the place is charming and addictive. After my first visit I had to return the next day to see if the bar was really that good. It was. Could It Be I’m falling In Love With You Baby?

Get Up Offa’ That Thing and get to the City View where Young Hearts Run Free. End of set. – D.M.